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We sure as fuck did.

After polishing off the drink, I stood, shoving the throbbing pain that radiated from every exhausted cell to the back of my mind. “I’m going to bed.”

“You better wake her up and let her know you’re home or she’ll be pissed. She was worried about you.”

Releasing a slow breath, I made my way to the living room. Standing beside the couch, I stroked a knuckle up and down her cheek. “Rain,” I whispered, not wanting to startle her awake. “I’m back, baby. Headed to bed.”

Her long dark lashes fluttered, lids slowly opening. “Hey. Sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”

“It’s okay, just wanted to let you know I’m home. Go back to sleep, baby.”

“No,” she pouted, making my lips twitch in an almost smile. “I’m coming to bed with you.”

The blanket floated to the floor when she tossed it aside and swiveled to stand. Grabbing her outstretched hands, I helped her off the couch. Still half asleep, she shuffled ahead of me, Jameson’s laugh following us down the hall.

In my room, I pulled back the covers, waiting until she crawled in before folding them back. “I’m going to take a shower,” I whispered.

She muttered something and rolled over, snuggling deeper into the pillow.

For several seconds, I stood there, memorizing her serene face.

She was here. With me, in my bed. Something I’d imagined too many times to count. And the reality was way better. When I pictured Rain waiting for me in my bed, I didn’t imagine this constricting feeling in my chest at the sight of her.

Walking away from her was difficult, but the pull of the shower lured me into the bathroom, stripping as I went. Under the scalding spray, the pelting water eased some of the tightness in my shoulders and back.

Lost in thought, my mind went to the drastic difference between Rain’s reaction to me coming home so late and tired compared to previous women in my life.

Rain didn’t complain or scream that I always put work first. There were no demands for me to change and conform to what they needed. She accepted me. All of me—the good, the bad, and the terrible.

With my face to the water, eyes closed, the recognition of what the heavy, swelling feeling in my chest was hit me like a punch to the gut.

Love. This suffocating, amazing, all-consuming feeling was love.

I had fallen hopelessly in love with Rain.

28

RAIN

The sound of the shower cutting off roused me from the light sleep I’d slipped into after he tucked me into his bed. Rolling to my side, I folded both hands beneath my cheek and stared into the dark, listening as the shower door whooshed open, followed by Slade’s footsteps. A minute later, the sliver of light pouring beneath the closed bathroom door winked out, and then the door opened.

The mattress shifted as Slade slid beneath the sheets, his body heat immediately adding to the warmth under the bedding. A smile curled my lips when his thick arm wrapped around my waist and his hard body sealed against my back, molding around me as if he wanted us touching in as many places as possible.

With a slow exhale, I wiggled against him to erase any lingering distance.

“You should be asleep,” he whispered in my ear. Moving my long, loose hair away from my neck, he softly kissed my skin. Him pressed against me combined with that simple kiss ignited a spark in my center.

Breaths shallow and quick, I shifted again, this time grinding my backside against his thickening length. My lower belly twisted and fluttered, the scorching heat burning through my veins. There was no way I could close my eyes and fall back asleep now. I wanted him, needed him to ease the throb between my thighs his proximity caused.

As if he’d read my mind, Slade dipped a hand beneath my sleep shirt, palm pressed against my bare stomach while his fingers shifted back and forth. Each teasing swipe that came dangerously close to brushing against the underside of my breast made my breath hitch.

“Don’t feel like sleeping?” he murmured, the soft seduction in his tone making me shiver. “I’m taking that as a no.”

The laughter in his voice caressed my skin. My back arched, pushing my ass even harder against his now fully rigid cock.

“Slade,” I breathed. “Please.”

I wasn’t even sure what I was begging for at this point. I just needed him to touch me more, to touch me everywhere with his fingers and lips, and to hopefully finally feel him inside me. He’d teased me last night, letting me feel his massive size in my hands. I was slightly terrified to see if he would fit but more nervous and excited to try.

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